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The United States will pursue a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb to meet demands of a rapidly changing security environment, according to the US Department of Defense.
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The new B61-13 aircraft munition will be produced by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, pending congressional authorisation and appropriation.
The gravity bomb variant will be deliverable by modern aircraft, strengthen deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies. It is planned for use against harder and large-area military targets and the replacement of B61-7s munitions (with a similar yield) in the current nuclear stockpile.
“Today’s announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb.
“The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, and assure our allies.
“The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment.
“While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile.”
The B61-7 gravity bomb and the new weapon reportedly have a yield of around 360 kilotons, while B61-12 munitions have an alleged yield of 50 kilotons. The initiative follows several months of review, ongoing assessment and consideration; and is now in response to any specific current event, according to Mr Plumb.
The B61-13 would take advantage of the established production capabilities supporting the B61-12 and would include the modern safety, security, and accuracy features of the B61-12.
The munition has been prompted by a challenging security environment involving US competitors continuing to expand, diversify, and modernise their nuclear forces while increasing reliance on nuclear weapons, according to the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.
The new B61-13 will not reportedly increase the overall number of weapons in the US stockpile, with the number of B61-12s to be produced lowered by the same amount as the number of B61-13s produced.
“Deterrence and assurance are enhanced if the United States can continue to deny an adversary sanctuary from attack. The B61-13 will provide the president with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets, even while the department works to retire legacy systems such as the B83-1 and the B61-7,” according to the US Department of Defense.
